Basic Boat Safety Tips

Owning a boat gives you the opportunity to spend more time with friends and family and create amazing memories on the water. However, just like any other type of vehicle you might operate on land, it’s crucial that you follow good boating safety practices. Safety is a key element of being a responsible boat owner, and we’ve got some tips to help you out.

Educate Passengers

All your passengers, particularly kids and teenagers, need to be educated on how to behave on the boat. Kids will need to be told not to disturb the operator while they’re busy operating the boat, and they should be discouraged from running, jumping, or climbing on the boat. 

Adults should be appraised of where safety items are located and it can be helpful to appoint one experienced adult as your skipper to take over the helm in case you suddenly can’t navigate the boat yourself due to illness or injury.

Wear Personal Flotation Devices

Every passenger on board your boat should wear a personal flotation device or PFD, otherwise known as a life jacket, from dock to dock. Make sure that all PFDs fit properly and are secured, particularly on children. Your boat also needs to have a throwable life ring in case someone falls overboard.

Carry Safety Equipment

Your boat should be stocked with a first-aid kit, some tools to make quick repairs, a rope, a multitool or knife, fire extinguishers, a radio, and extra warm clothing or blankets. Having these supplies can help you out significantly in the event of an accident or injury.

When you’re ready to buy a new boat, visit our dealership in Canandaigua, NY, to see what we currently have in stock. German Brothers Marina is proud to serve our New York customers in the cities of Rochester and Syracuse.